ARC Book Review: The Collector – Victoria Scott

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of Hell’s best – a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.
Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.
Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of Hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

First Sentence: I’m in a slump, off my game, throwing up bricks, swinging and missing.

I received an eARC through NetGalley. Thank you!

My Review:

I wanted to love The Collector. I really did.

I first heard about The Collector from the huge hype it was getting; how Dante was so awesome and smart and sexy and just basically, everything. I immediately got my hopes up because he sounded like someone who I would find very entertaining to read about and make me laugh like crazy. Instead of The Collector being a fast and amazing read that I couldn’t get enough of, I really struggled to get through the first two-thirds of the book. The Collector is probably one of the books that took me the longest to read this year: two entire weeks with only 352 pages in the ARC. On the first two days, I read half of The Collector, and then dropped it for awhile. To be honest, I wanted to DNF it so badly, but I couldn’t because I have to write a proper review for Netgalley because, let’s face it, they deserve a proper review for letting me read The Collector for free.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about Dante. Kind of. I mean, he hates cats like I do and described my feelings about them perfectly. I couldn’t have done it any better.

At the end of the walkway is a cat. It struts with arrogance. You’d think it just won the Nobel Prize. But it didn’t. Know why? Because it’s a freakin’ cat. (ARC 15)

I just had to put that line there.

Anyway, back to the original topic; throughout the book, I felt nothing for Dante; I didn’t hate him or dislike him like I was supposed to, I basically felt nothing towards him. I was just reading about him. In fact, I didn’t even judge him at all, which is completely out of character for me when I’m reading. The only reason I can think of why I felt nothing towards Dante is because the entire first two-thirds of The Collector bored me to death. The only important things we learned about Dante was his job, what he does and how he does it, Boss Man, and heaven and hell. The real action doesn’t start until the last two-thirds of the book.

My main problem with The Collector is that in certain parts of the book, it’s too unrealistic and too good to be true. No, when I say “unrealistic,” I’m not talking about Dante being a soul collector, I mean, that could really happen, who knows? I’m talking about the natural stuff: What kind of parent will let someone (a guy in this case) they don’t know hang out in their house alone with their teenage daughter? I don’t know about you, but that just screams TEENAGE SEX EQUALS BABIES to me. I mean, sure, Dante’s false excuse of “My mom’s Lisa Walker. You guys met at church, I think?…She said you’d remember her,” might be acceptable at first, but as Dante is continuing to hang out in their house, Charlie’s grandmother should once where Dante’s parent was and if they could officially meet “again.” (page 20)

Also, what kind of parent would believe that their teenage boy (Blue in this case) is staying over at another teenage boy’s house because he felt sorry of him? I mean sure, that might happen (although it’s highly unlikely), but wouldn’t Blue’s parents call the guy’s parents first to double-check that what their son is saying is really true? I know I would, especially if I have a teenage son/daughter. It just doesn’t make any sense; I doubt any parents are really that gullible in real life. (If they are, they need a lesson about teenagers and drugs and sex.)

Blue’s turn. “Blue, call you mommy. You’re staying the night with Dante Walker. I’m the new kid in town, and you feel sorry for me. (ARC 160)

The Collector also made me realize that I also have a new pet peeve: Why do every single time I read a book, a person who dies while driving dies because they were trying to avoid hitting a deer? I don’t know how many times I’ve read about this in books (and not to mention seen it in movies); how hard is it to actually hit the deer and survive, and maybe even save your own family while doing it?The Collector is one of those books where someone(s) dies while driving just to avoid hitting a deer. (I’m trying to be as non-specific as I can because if I go in depth, this deer scene would be a huge spoiler for those who haven’t read the book yet.)

Memories of that night wash over me. The sound of rap music pounding through the speakers of his Beamer. The way he sang out of tune to Jay-Z in an attempt to show me he was with it. Later, the screech of tires as the deer stepped out into the road. My head rattling as the car flipped twice and slid to a stop. (ARC 229, 230)

One thing I really enjoyed reading about is when Dante goes through a huge character development in The Collector, and it really shows. It was slow, subtle, and I’ll have to admit, a bit sweet as I watched him slowly change from that cocky conceited self-interested jerk to a caring person that accepts people for who they are. The best part was when Dante acknowledged that he had changed. It made me smile and finally want to cheer for him after about two hundred and fifty pages into the book.

But for me, I’ll always remember what I was.
I was the center of the universe.
I was the king of the world. (ARC 248)

Victoria Scott threw so many twists and turns at me in the last few chapters of The Collector that I was so not expecting; I was just gaping at the book in shock. Honestly, the last two-thirds of The Collector was the only part of the book that completely captured my attention and made me want to read on more. If the entire book was like that, The Collector would definitely get a higher rating from me than a 2.5, but sadly, it wasn’t.

Overall, I would definitely, sadly, not be reading the next book in the Dante Walker series, The Liberator. I just don’t think that the Dante Walker series is my type of book (even though he’s the first person that I’ve read about who hates cats as much as I do for the exact same reasons).

Speak Your Mind

Haha, this made me chuckle. I love how anguished you are over the deer thing XD I think it’s just human instinct to swerve when you see something in the road ahead of you. But still, I can’t stop giggling.

I liked Dante’s character development as well, and it’s one of the few things I actually enjoyed about this novel. Charlie, however, was a terrible character.

That’s true, if I ever drive (I’m hoping never) and I see something on the road, I’ll probably let go of the driver’s wheel (is that what it’s called?) and watch as the car heads towards it in horror.
I never really thought about Charlie until I saw your review, and you’re definitely right, she doesn’t change at all throughout the book; maybe it’s because she’s so good already from the start.
And thank you! :DKelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Collector – Victoria Scott

Pity you didn’t like this one, though I was sort of waiting to read the first negative review of it because it was hyped soooo much! I’m glad to hear Dante develops as a character, even though you didn’t care much for him at the beginning. I’d like to hear your thoughts on Charlie, though…
About the deer thing: you just do it. I’ve seen something lie in the middle of the road (it was already dead) and I swerved too, though I still drove over it with two wheels and it was… uncomfortable >.< I knew not to swerve. It was just so unexpected. But I agree, this type of thing happens in books so often… can't they find a different reason for car accidents?
Overall, I'm sorry you had to force yourself to finish the book :/ I know the conflict – I recently DNFed a book I got from edelweiss at 55%. I felt bad about it but I just couldn't keep going. No matter what was to come, it wouldn't have changed my opinion anymore at that point, and from what I heard the elements that drove me nuts would have intensified.
Anyhow, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I just can't make up my mind about this book…Carmen B. recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: Marie Antoinette – Serial Killer, by Katie Alender

Mines is not the first negative review out there, there’s also Amber’s review and a couple of other DNF reviews I saw on goodreads.
As for my thoughts on Charlie, as Amber has mentioned in her review, Charlie doesn’t go through any character development at all. Maybe it’s because she’s so good already that she doesn’t need to change to suit the purposes of the book, I dunno really. To me, Charlie is the clueless innocent girl that is really too good to be true, kind of like Anna from Sweet Evil. Like Anna, Charlie falls in love REALLY quickly.
And oh my goodness, all these car horror stories makes me glad that I don’t know how to drive! If I was you, I’ll be so scared that I would have let go of the driving wheel, and who knows what would happen then? (Hint: Probably a MAJOR car accident.)
Oh, I totally would have done the same as you did Carmen. If I heard that the elements that drove me nuts in the book I was reading later intensified, I would be like nope, sorry, can’t do it, and write a DNF review. However, for The Collector, I heard that things can better as you read on, so I read on.
I think whether you’ll like The Collector or not depends on if you can stand Dante. Go on Amazon and read the first chapter or so, it should help you decide whether or not you’ll want to read it.
And thanks for commenting Carmen! :DKelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Collector – Victoria Scott

You should read an excerpt of the first chapter on Amazon Kimberly, that can help you decide whether you want to read The Collector or not.
And thank you Kimberly, I’ll definitely check it out! (:Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Collector – Victoria Scott

If this comment looks weird, like I’m commenting on every paragraph that you wrote, it’s because I am. I wrote this on a little notepad. While I was reading your review, I was jotting down comments like some weirdo.

This review is awesome! :) hehe I really did like Dante, though I can see why you didn’t. I hate when books take me so long to read only because I’m just not into them. It sucks having to force yourself to keep reading something that you do not want to read!

OMG I totally agree on the whole lack of teenage supervision! That just spelled out teen pregnancy for me (and you too, apparently). It wasn’t REAL. lol My parents would have been freaking out. Oh, and yes, no teenage boy will stay over another’s because he feels sorry for him. Um… this isn’t third grade.

We talked about the the killer deer. So cliche. We need a new death.

I liked his transformation too, because I just hated him at the beginning. I agree with you that the series isn’t the kind of book I would enjoy. I MIGHT give it a try, but I’m seriously doubting it.

Don’t worry, your comment doesn’t look weird. :D
I just wish I wasn’t lazy unlike you though, whenever I read reviews and want to comment on every part of it, I don’t write my thoughts on a notepad, I scroll down to the comment box and write my thoughts, then scroll back up. I don’t know why some blogs erase what I put in the comment box when I scroll up though. ):
Yeah, I wasn’t really happy forcing myself to read the entire book, but I’m kind of glad I did because the ending redeemed the book a bit. (That invisible collector twist! I never expected that at all. I thought it would be Max or something.)
And I feel bad that I didn’t really like Dante, I mean, who else would hate cats like we do? And he described why perfectly! When I got to that scene, I was like OMG DANTE, ARE YOU READING MY MIND?
My parents would be like NO. It took me THREE months to convince them to let me go to a friend’s sleepover when I was 17. THREE MONTHS. They also knew my friend’s parents for seven years and my parents aren’t highly protective at all. I highly doubt that any real life parents would be like sure daughter/son, go have fun without double checking with their parents. And even third graders’ parents double check with each other!
I’ll personally prefer drunk driving scenes than deer scenes. At least the drunk driving scenes would be new and not overdone. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything with drunk driving scenes…
The only thing that can make me read The Liberator is if I get a free copy. The hype better stay away from me next year. I give in into the hype way too easily if you ask me.
And thank you Nancy! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. :DKelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Collector – Victoria Scott

That weird unrealistic aspect you mention with Charlie and her grandmother immediately accepting Dante’s presence? Exactly why I had to DNF. I just couldn’t do it. I’m kind of interested in seeing what happened after I stopped reading, but not so much. And if you never really connected with Dante at all? Meh. Probably for the best.Renae @ Respiring Thoughts recently posted…Book Review: Eve (Eve #1) by Anna Carey

Yeah, in that scene, I was expecting something along the lines of HAHAHA FOOLED YOU THIS REALLY DIDN’T HAPPEN to appear and was so shocked when it didn’t. I would have stopped reading then, but I wanted to write a proper review for Netgalley.
It’s also hard to connect with someone who judges people by their looks with nothing really happening.Kelly recently posted…Series Overview: The Darkness Rising Trilogy – Kelley Armstrong

Um yeah, this book wasn’t for me either. Though I definitely hated Dante, I did like his character development, but I agree that this story was just unrealistic apart from the paranormal aspect. And yes, I was bored. SO BORED. I didn’t read this one as carefully as I normally do, because there was just so much nothing going on. So honestly, I do not get the hype. At all.

I sadly didn’t read this as carefully as I normally do either. :l
Only the ending captured my attention because for once, something was happening.
And the hype. It might have something to do with the “bad boy” theme, although Dante isn’t really my definition of a bad boy, he’s just an awful jerk.Kelly recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday [27]

Wow well I wasn’t sure about this book, I kept going back and forth if I wanted to read it but after reading your review I think I am going to skip it. I hate boring books, I hate investing my time in a book and only enjoying the last few chapters. So glad I got to see your review, thanks

I entered a giveaway on another blog for this book, and we’ll see if I get the chance to win a copy. I think the summary sounds interesting, so I’d still like to read it. Who knows, maybe I’ll like it.

This book was disappointing to me. I expected so much more from The Collector, mainly because of all the hype about it. ( Dante is soooo hot, omg i cant! blah blah blah lol ).
In fact, just like you, I didn’t love or hate Dante, it’s the same to me. And it sucks because I really wanted to feel something. Well, I don’t have the slightest desire to read the second book =(

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Effortlessly Reading sometimes receives ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) from publishers or authors in exchange for honest reviews. Please note that no compensation of any kind has been provided in exchange for a review. Any use and/or duplication of my material without any permission is strictly prohibited.